The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, has warned citizens in security-ravaged areas against engaging in any form of trading or transaction with terrorists, bandits and other non-state actors.
He said trading with them encouraged them and that they must be stopped to defeat the menace.
Musa issued the warning on Wednesday after visiting patients at the Defence Headquarters Medical Centre as part of the Christmas celebration, which coincided with his birthday.
The CDS lamented that some unpatriotic elements have been trading with these groups and noted that their actions were sabotaging the efforts of the military and other security agencies in fighting insecurity in the country.
He said, “I also want to call on those few ones who think they are making money by trading with those terrorists and bandits. Those terrorists and bandits have no respect for anybody. Once you feel you are trading with them, they will come after you.
“If they don’t come after you, they will go after your relatives – your brother, sister, wife or husband. So, please, nobody should trade with those guys.
“If we do not encourage them, we do not trade with them, they will not survive.
That is the important thing we are saying.”
Musa regretted that terrorism was not nipped in the bud when it began, which, according to him, allowed it to fester.
“The mistakes that were made in the past when this thing (terrorism/banditry) started was that we did not nip it in the bud. We allowed it to get to where it is. But thank God everybody is putting their hands together, and we are delighted that Nigerians are warming up.
“We are getting a lot of support from Nigerians, prayers, and information on things happening everywhere. We must continue to do that,” he said.
Musa assured the military would leave no stone unturned to ensure Nigeria is peaceful in 2025.
He said, “Since we started where we are today, there has been a remarkable improvement in the security situation, and we will take that further. That is why I said next year is defining, which means that we will do everything possible to ensure that Nigeria is peaceful.
“We will try to ensure that we continue to live in peace. It is not automatic, but I know if we have the cooperation of Nigerians, that is possible because God is always with us. We are going to make sure that Nigeria is better for everyone.”
